DEVAN
This woman is doing something to me.
Something I can’t explain.
She makes me want to tease her but I end up getting affected, too.
I can’t count the number of times my cock has gotten reactions just from her cheeks flushing pink at my every dirty comment.
And every time she licks her lips?
Bites her lower lip?
Fuck me.
This woman is fucking gorgeous.
It feels like she’s also punishing me for teasing her.
And I’m enjoying it.
I wish to do it all night, but that’s impossible.
And I just realized I dragged myself into a ditch, because now I can’t sleep.
I’m still thinking about the woman sleeping beside me.
The woman I’m not allowed to touch.
The woman who just fed me dinner like a baby.
Her fingers were soft.
My cock twitched every time they touched my lips.
In the end, I couldn’t resist the urge to lick those beautiful fingers.
Between Miranda’s delicacy and Scarlet’s fingers, I couldn’t tell which one was sweeter.
The way she stiffened at first, tempted me to tell her I could be gentle or rough, depending on her preference.
But then she hesitated before retracting her hand.
I wonder what was running in that beautiful brain, because I didn’t miss the flush on her cheeks.
It was setting my body on fire.
I deserved it.
I started it.
This is a contract marriage, but that reminder doesn’t change my reactions.
Especially with the betrayer I have in the name of a cock.
I don’t know if Scarlet is asleep.
When I call her, she responds quickly.
Is she having a rough night?
I understand her.
It’s been a long day, and she’s sharing a bed with a stranger on the night that’s supposed to be a wedding night.
The thought of that fucker makes a lump form in my throat.
What if she’s thinking about him?
And why does the thought of it suddenly assault my heart?
For Christ’s sake Devan.
The woman is new to you.
I offer to help, and she surprises me when she asks me to tell her a story.
And the story she chooses is one I don’t want to talk about.
Especially with her.
I don’t want her tossed deep into my world.
I vowed to always protect her.
What I didn’t know is that I would be dealing with a stubborn head.
I thought I was stubborn?
Well, I just met my match.
When I tell her someone betrayed me, she drills me for details, no matter how many times I tell her it’s not important.
She threatens to sleep in the bathroom, and I can’t believe it’s happening, but I fall for it.
Yeah, she’s really something.
And she’s doing something to me.
Six months?
I’m toast.
“Being a mafia king has its perks and its downsides. The biggest con is that you’ll have enemies in every corner of the world.”
Scarlet turns to face me.
And I do the same.
I’m lying on the shoulder that’s not hurt.
“So this was one of your enemies?”
“Definitely.”
“Do you know who did it?” She probes.
“The investigations are on, but I have a hunch.”
I huff.
“No one you’d know of.”
“Come on, we can just talk about it. Assume I’m one of your men.”
“But you’re my wife.”
“Hence the word assume, knucklehead. How are you the head of an entire syndicate?”
I smile.
“Because I’m awesome, and even you can agree on that.”
A soft laugh escapes her lips.
And I must be crazy because the sound of it goes straight to my cock.
“His name is Mendoza. My family and he have been frenemies for years.”
Until I found out he could be the man behind my father’s death.
I grit my teeth at the mere thought of it.
As anger starts to rise beneath my veins, a soft hand suddenly touches my face.
I can’t lie.
It’s the most calming thing.
“I’m so sorry about that,” says Scarlet.
I take her hand and kiss it.
“It’s okay.”
“I’m sorry I got you worried. But trust me when I say, I’ve got everything covered.”
“Yet you got shot,” she counters.
“At least I’m not dead.” We both laugh.
And then I hear a loud exhale.
“So, does that mean, as your wife, I’ll always be worried about you?” She asks.
“It’s not always like that. I have set a lot of contingencies in place. This hiccup came from a mole. And I will find the person.”
“Will you kill them?” Her voice comes out as a whisper.
Fuck.
She’s scared, isn’t she?
I sigh as I say.
“In this world, if you hesitate to destroy your enemy, they will destroy you with no mercy.”
Another sigh.
“You’re scared,” I conclude.
“No, I’m not.”
That’s a lie.
“I would never hurt you, Scarlet. I stand by that.”
“I know,” she responds, calming my heart.
The last thing I need is my wife scurrying away whenever she sees me, when I was the one who suggested this contract marriage.
Being my wife puts her in my enemies’ radar, but I’m determined to protect her at all costs.
She lets out a long breath.
“That was a beautiful story.” She jokes, making me laugh.
“It was a scary story. Although I know a few erotic stories that could put you to sleep.”
I picture her cheeks flushing pink and it makes me go loco.
I should make her life easier in this marriage.
“Does your dirty mind ever rest?” She asks.
“No. Not really. And now that I have a beautiful wife, it’s going to have a full-time job.”
“Alright, I think it’s time to sleep.” She quickly turns to look the other way.
More nights like this for the next six months?
No strings attached.
That was one of the rules.
I’m used to that.
I haven’t connected with any woman since…
Well since my life changed its course.
I have lived by the no strings attached rule for a very long time.
Maybe I should stop with these teases.
But I just can’t resist it.
What has become of me in one day?
She’s right.
We should sleep.
Tomorrow is also going to be a long day, since there’s a lot of things we haven’t settled.
I know this is going to be a battle.
Because some will point out how I suddenly have a wife at the most convenient time.
Yeah, the most convenient time.
I sigh when I remember I haven’t told her the real and main reason behind this marriage.
Technically, I didn’t lie to her about why I needed a wife urgently, but I also didn’t go deeper about it?
Do I really have to?
Is it important?
We’ll be married for six months and everyone goes their separate ways.
Lying by omission.
That’s what this is.
How would she react when I tell her the real reason behind this?
_______________
It’s the birthday party again.
And I’m so excited like a toddler.
Birthdays are my favorite celebrations.
That’s the only time we get to behave like a normal family.
The only time I can invite my friends over.
Today, my father is turning a year older.
We’re preparing for the party.
Mother puts me in charge of decorations.
I’ve loved the role ever since I was young.
But I’d be turning eighteen in a few months, would I still love it now that I’d officially be an adult.
Mother wants everything to be perfect.
It’s a surprise party for the man because, according to mother, the last few days have been so stressful that he’d forgotten about his birthday.
He went to run some errands and would be back soon.
As I’m putting a few balloons together, one of the bodyguards suddenly walks into the living room.
“Boss is here,” he informs us.
This should be the most exciting part.
The part where we hit him with “Surprise!” But it suddenly feels odd.
I don’t want it.
I don’t want this party.
I feel reluctant.
And weirdly sad.
The feeling is familiar.
And I hate it.
I know what’s going to happen next.
And it breaks my heart.
I don’t want to be here.
I don’t want to be here.
No.
I need to get out of here.
“Let’s go meet your father,” says mother.
I’ll close his eyes and then we’ll show him the surprise.”
Mother takes my hand.
“No,” I resist.
“No. I don’t want to go.”
“No!”
I force my eyes wide open.
I’m breathing heavily.
Drenched in sweat.
A hand suddenly taps my head, making me jolt.
And that’s when I realize, I’m lying on something soft.
More comfortable than my pillow.
Something with an intoxicating scent.
When the fog clears I raise my head.
And that’s when I realize, that’s a woman’s lap.
And she’s been patting my hair softly.